spick-and-span

adjective

ˌspik-ən(d)-ˈspan How to pronounce spick-and-span (audio)
ˌspik-ᵊŋ-
variants or spic-and-span
1
2
: spotlessly clean

Examples of spick-and-span in a Sentence

let's make the house spick-and-span for our visitors a spick-and-span waffle iron that our host was obviously using for the first time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Neglecting The Kitchen Sink Your sink may look spick-and-span, but looks can be deceiving. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024 In the otherwise ramshackle dusty town, sits nestled a spick-and-span health clinic run by the Catholic Daughters of Saint Anne. Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2016 This compound has antimicrobial properties that leave your grill spick-and-span. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 21 June 2023 Courteney Cox is keeping her Walk of Fame star — and those belonging to her famous friends — spick-and-span! Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2023 That’s where this spick-and-span guide comes in. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 19 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

short for spick-and-span-new, from obsolete English spick spike + English and + span-new

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spick-and-span was in 1665

Dictionary Entries Near spick-and-span

Cite this Entry

“Spick-and-span.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spick-and-span. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

spick-and-span

adjective
variants or spic-and-span
ˌspik-ən-ˈspan
1
: quite new and unused
2
: very clean and neat
kept the cabin spick-and-span

More from Merriam-Webster on spick-and-span

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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